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The Joy of an Uncluttered Life
by Joyce MeyerBattle burnout, simplify your life, and change your thinking with #1 New York Times bestselling author and renowned Bible teacher Joyce Meyer. Many of us understand how easy it is for life to become hectic, stressful, and busy. We are overcommitted, have no free time, and feel trapped in the daily demands of life. But there is good news—you don&’t have to live this way! In The Joy of an Uncluttered Life, you will find relief from burnout and unnecessary stress with 100 ways to simplify your life. These doable tips will teach you to set boundaries, stay positive, clear out clutter in your life, deal with other people in healthy ways, and more. Even the smallest things we do in a day have the power to bring about more peace, and this book will empower you to make lasting changes in your life. Discover a life beyond stress and frustration and develop a mindset of simplicity and peace! Derived from material previously published in 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life.
Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, and the Theology of Freedom (Routledge Critical Studies in Religion, Gender and Sexuality)
by Gunda WernerThis book explores how Judith Butler’s work on gender and the shaping of the human subject and Michel Foucault's notion of parrhesia, ‘speaking the truth’, can be made fruitful for a theology of freedom. The volume illustrates the importance of three concepts - freedom, gender (body) and power (critique) - and how this triad provides the foundational categories and structural elements of a theology of freedom. By starting from an analysis of power and the performative potential of gendered embodiment, freedom can be thought of as the basis of creative and critical human action and thereby implemented in theology. The chapters feature several theological-historical case studies that are representative of topics that continue to shape contemporary Catholic norms and thought. In particular, the author reflects on the 13th century with the idea of personal sin and confession, and the 19th century with a gender ideology that has led to the marginalization of difference and dissent. The book shows how Butler and Foucault can provide essential insights for Catholic theology and is valuable reading for scholars of religion, philosophy, and gender and sexuality studies.
Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, and the Theology of Freedom (Routledge Critical Studies in Religion, Gender and Sexuality)
by Gunda WernerThis book explores how Judith Butler’s work on gender and the shaping of the human subject and Michel Foucault's notion of parrhesia, ‘speaking the truth’, can be made fruitful for a theology of freedom. The volume illustrates the importance of three concepts - freedom, gender (body) and power (critique) - and how this triad provides the foundational categories and structural elements of a theology of freedom. By starting from an analysis of power and the performative potential of gendered embodiment, freedom can be thought of as the basis of creative and critical human action and thereby implemented in theology. The chapters feature several theological-historical case studies that are representative of topics that continue to shape contemporary Catholic norms and thought. In particular, the author reflects on the 13th century with the idea of personal sin and confession, and the 19th century with a gender ideology that has led to the marginalization of difference and dissent. The book shows how Butler and Foucault can provide essential insights for Catholic theology and is valuable reading for scholars of religion, philosophy, and gender and sexuality studies.
Just Shy of Ordinary
by A. J. SassIn this heartfelt novel about family, friendship, and identity perfect for fans of The List of Things That Will Not Change and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, a thirteen-year-old nonbinary kid discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan—especially when they start public school for the first time. Thirteen-year-old Shai is an expert problem-solver. There&’s never been something they couldn&’t research and figure out on their own. But there&’s one thing Shai hasn&’t been able to logic their way through: picking at the hair on their arms. Ever since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Shai&’s been unable to control their picking. Now, as the difficult times recede and everyone begins to discover their &“new normal,&” Shai&’s hoping the stress that caused their picking will end, too. After reading that a routine can reduce anxiety, Shai makes a plan to create a brand new normal for themself that includes going to public school. But when their academic evaluation places them into 9th grade instead of 8th, it sets off a chain of events that veer off the path Shai had prepared for, encouraging Shai to learn how to accept life's twists and turns, especially when you can't plan for them.
Kabbalah and Literature (Comparative Jewish Literatures)
by Professor Kitty MilletFocuses on a range of Jewish and non-Jewish writers to examine the intersection of Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition, and secular Jewish literatures.Kabbalah and Literature shows how the Jewish mystical tradition contributes to the renewal of literature in a modern, global, and increasingly disconnected age. Kitty Millet explores Kabbalah's conceptual underpinnings, aesthetic principles, tenets, and signifiers to demonstrate how literature's absorption of kabbalistic material has altered its ontology, function, and the tasks it sets for itself. Reading writers from Europe and the Americas, Kitty Millet maps how the kabbalist's desire to "recover Eden" transforms into a latent messianic drive only intuitable through text. Thus it charts a journey of sorts, a migration of Jewish mystical material embedded surreptitiously within text in order to shift ever so slightly at times the range of the literary to encompass an aesthetic vision not easily reducible to the literal, the known, the allegorical, or even the philosophical.In this way, Kabbalah and Literature proposes a novel, intuitive approach, shifting focus away from the Jewish text's epistemological elements to embrace its "secrets."
Karl Barth and Pentecostal Theology: A Convergence of the Word and the Spirit (T&T Clark Systematic Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology)
by Frank D. Macchia, Terry L. Cross, and Andrew K. GabrielThe essays in this volume evaluate and build on Barth's theology from the perspective of Pentecostal theology and, thereby, contribute to constructive Pentecostal systematic theology by using Barth as a valuable dialogue partner. At present, a theological conversation of Pentecostals with Barth does not exist and this volume fills this void. More widely, it will aid all those who seek a convergence of the Word and the Spirit in theology. Barth and Pentecostals share some important common theological interests. Barth's mature theology has a decidedly christological emphasis. Likewise, historically, Pentecostals have often spoken of a “full gospel” with an emphasis on Christ as savior, healer, baptizer (in the Spirit), and soon-and-coming King, with some Pentecostal traditions also adding a fifth emphasis on Christ the sanctifier. Furthermore, near the end of his life, Barth anticipated “the possibility of a theology of the third article, a theology where the Holy Spirit would dominate and be decisive.” The realization of Barth's dream is no doubt coming to pass in part through the development of Pentecostal theology in as much as pneumatological theology (exploring how pneumatology affects, supplements, and might reform other doctrines) is an emerging paradigm for Pentecostal theology.
Keats: The Religious Sense
by Robert M. RyanA landmark account of how Keat&’s religion shaped his life and poetryJohn Keats (1795–1821) was an earnest seeker after truth who believed in the existence of a Supreme Being and felt a need to investigate the consequences and ramifications of that belief. Keats: The Religious Sense reconstructs the historical, social, and intellectual environment that fostered Keats&’s religious convictions and describes the faith he adopted for himself. In this landmark book, Robert Ryan follows Keats&’s religious development through its observable chronological stages, beginning with the process by which he abandoned the Christian faith of his upbringing. Ryan shows how religious speculation and discussion played a significant formative role in the poet&’s intellectual development, especially in the years of his greatest achievement, and argues that Keats&’s critical judgments of Shakespeare, Milton, and Wordsworth—as well as some of his famous theoretical pronouncements on poetry, including his remarks on &“negative capability&” and &“the truth of Imagination&”—cannot be fully understood without understanding the religious context in which they were made.
Keats: The Religious Sense
by Robert M. RyanA landmark account of how Keat&’s religion shaped his life and poetryJohn Keats (1795–1821) was an earnest seeker after truth who believed in the existence of a Supreme Being and felt a need to investigate the consequences and ramifications of that belief. Keats: The Religious Sense reconstructs the historical, social, and intellectual environment that fostered Keats&’s religious convictions and describes the faith he adopted for himself. In this landmark book, Robert Ryan follows Keats&’s religious development through its observable chronological stages, beginning with the process by which he abandoned the Christian faith of his upbringing. Ryan shows how religious speculation and discussion played a significant formative role in the poet&’s intellectual development, especially in the years of his greatest achievement, and argues that Keats&’s critical judgments of Shakespeare, Milton, and Wordsworth—as well as some of his famous theoretical pronouncements on poetry, including his remarks on &“negative capability&” and &“the truth of Imagination&”—cannot be fully understood without understanding the religious context in which they were made.
Keeping Peace in Troubled Times: Perspectives from Different Disciplines on War and Peace (Contributions to International Relations)
by Nina KäsehageThis interdisciplinary anthology offers both theoretical reflections and empirical data on past, present and possible future war and crisis situations. In addition, against the background of the authors' academic and practical experience in the field of international political observation and consultancy, proposals are formulated for peacekeeping in crisis regions and with regard to extreme environments. Furthermore it addresses sensory and aesthetic perceptions of war and peace. Unlike other books on the subject, this contributed volume seeks solutions for lasting peace from various fields that could help improve quality of life for people around the world – especially in heterogeneous societies, which are often shaken by religious, ethnic or political crises.
Keir Hardie, the Bible, and Christian Socialism: The Miner's Prophet (The Library of New Testament Studies)
by Professor Daniel L. Smith-ChristopherDaniel L. Smith-Christopher focuses on the life and efforts of Keir Hardie, one of the founders of the UK Labour Party and one of the foremost figureheads of trade unionism. Drawing upon the work of two contemporary and significant American theorists-Herbert Gutman's classic essay on “Working-Class Religion” and Michael Gold's call for “Proletarian Literature”-Smith-Christopher marries British and American historical and theoretical debates to argue that Hardie's work is surely the quintessential example of a “proletarian exegesis” of the Bible.Beginning with a summary of the major events in Hardie's life, Smith-Christopher draws both upon existing biographies and more recent historical discussions that question assumption of British social history. He then reviews previous debates upon the influence of Hardie's own Christian faith upon his journalistic output, and assesses three Christian Socialists whose work was advertised and reviewed by Hardie himself: Dennis Hird, John Morrison Davidson, and Caroline Martyn. Smith-Christopher proceeds to Hardie's copious writings, both for The Labour Leader and separately published lectures, pamphlets, and somewhat longer works of autobiography and comment. Highlighting Hardie's tendency to cite favorite texts (heavily from the Gospels and James, but also some notable Old Testament discussions), Smith-Christopher proves Hardie's serious discussion of these texts beyond mere political rhetoric; concluding by comparing a selection of Hardie's favorite Biblical arguments with contemporary research in Biblical Studies about these same passages, evaluating the problems and possibilities of proposing a “Proletarian Exegesis”.
Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace
by Elizabeth NeumannA former counterterrorism official explores how modern evangelicalism and right-wing conservatism intermingled to form the combustible ideology that resulted in the January 6 attacks on the Capitol—and which threatens to destroy the American Church from within. How did a Church that purports to follow the teachings of Jesus - the Prince of Peace - become a breeding ground for violent extremism? When Elizabeth Neumann began her anti-terrorism career as part of President George W. Bush&’s Homeland Security Counsel in the wake of the September 11 attacks, she expected to spend her life protecting her country from the threat of global terrorism. But as her career evolved, she began to perceive that the greatest threat to American security came not from religious fundamentalists in Afghanistan or Iraq but from white nationalists and radicalized religious fundamentalists within the very institution that was closest to her heart – the American evangelical church. And she began to sound the alarm, raising her concerns to anyone in government who would listen, including testifying before Congress in February of 2020. At that time, Neumann warned that anti-Semitic and white supremacist terrorism was a transnational threat that was building to the doorstep of another major attack. Shortly after her testimony, she resigned from her role as Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention in protest of what she believed was then-President Trump&’s failure of leadership and his stoking of the hatred, anger, and division from which she had dedicated her life to protecting her country. Her worst fears came true when she witnessed the attack on the capital on January 6, 2021. In Kingdom of Rage, Neumann explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist, anti-government and other far-right terrorists by co-opting Christian symbols and culture and perverting the faith&’s teachings. While Neumann offers decades of insights into the role government policies can play to prevent further bloodshed, she believes real change must come from the within the Christian church. She shines a bright light on the responsibility of ordinary Americans – and particularly American Christians – to work within their families and their communities to counteract the narrative of victimization and marginalization within American evangelicalism. Her goal for this book is not only to sound a warning about one of the greatest threats to our security but to rescue the Church from the forces that will, if left unchecked, destroy it – culturally, morally, and ultimately quite literally. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the unholy marriage of right-wing politics and Christian exceptionalism in America and who wants to be a part of reversing the current path towards division, hatred, violence and the ultimate undermining of both evangelical Christianity and American democracy.
The King's Witches: A Bewitching Historical Novel from the Women's Prize Longlisted Author of The Maiden
by Kate Foster'A masterpiece . . . I literally didn't look up from the first page to the last' – Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The AppealThe King’s Witches by Kate Foster is a compelling and beautiful historical novel that gives voices to the women at the heart of the real-life witch trials in sixteenth-century Scotland. Women whisper secrets to each other; it is how we survive.1589. Princess Anna of Denmark is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland. Before they can wed, Anna must pass the trial period: one year of marriage to prove herself worthy of being Scotland's new Queen. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anna resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry . . .By her side is Kirsten Sorenson, her loyal and pious lady-in-waiting. But, whilst tending to Anna's every need, Kirsten has her own secret motives for the royal marriage to succeed . . .Meanwhile, in North Berwick, young housemaid Jura practises the healing charms taught to her by her mother. When she realizes she is no longer safe, she escapes to Edinburgh, only to find herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped not just the capital, but the new queen . . .'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling . . . An utterly timely tale' – D. V. Bishop, prize-winning author of Ritual of Fire'A beautifully written tale of love and duty, fear and courage' – Jenny Ashcroft, bestselling author of The Echoes of Love'A gripping, poignant novel that gives voices to those so often unheard in historical accounts' – Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women*The Maiden was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction on 05/03/2024
Knife: From the Booker Prize winning author of Midnight’s Children
by Salman RushdieA gripping account of survival and recovery from internationally renowned writer and Booker Prize-winner Salman RushdieOn the morning of 12 August 2022, Salman Rushdie was standing onstage at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York, preparing to give a lecture on the importance of keeping writers safe from harm, when a man in black – black clothes, black mask – rushed down the aisle towards him, wielding a knife. His first thought: So it’s you. Here you are.What followed was a horrific act of violence that shook the literary world and beyond. Now, for the first time, Rushdie relives the traumatic events of that day and its aftermath, as well as his journey towards physical recovery and the healing that was made possible by the love and support of his wife, Eliza, his family, his army of doctors and physical therapists, and his community of readers worldwide.Knife is Rushdie writing with urgency, gravity, and unflinching honesty. It is also a deeply moving reminder of literature’s capacity to make sense of the unthinkable. This an intimate and life-affirming meditation on life, loss, love, art – and finding the strength to stand up again.
Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West: Reconfiguring Tradition (Routledge Studies in Religion)
by Zainab KabbaDrawing on immersive fieldwork in the United States, Canada, and Turkey, this ethnographic exploration illuminates the transformative experiences of emerging adult Muslims on their quest for religious knowledge. This book unravels the significance of four residential learning settings, revealing their role as catalysts for reshaping Islamic tradition. Delving into the interplay between technology’s pervasive influence and the decentralized nature of Islamic interpretation, Zainab Kabba unveils a vibrant tapestry of knowledge producers vying to shape religious understanding and practice among Western Muslims. At the heart of this narrative lies the delicate balance between teachers and students, continuously communicating and recalibrating components that bring religious authority to life. Kabba dissects this relationship, highlighting the emergence of a complex landscape that she terms the ‘Muslim Education Industrial Complex’, where religious knowledge has become a commodity. This study offers profound insights into the challenges of intra-Muslim dialogue and the adaptive resilience of American Sunni-Muslim communities. Amidst a digital age and the complexities of global geopolitics surrounding Islam, it showcases how these communities reinterpret classical Islamic narratives, navigating tradition to steer their path forward. This book invites readers to ponder the evolution of Islamic learning, the dynamics of authority, and the enduring quest for knowledge amidst the currents of a rapidly changing world.
Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West: Reconfiguring Tradition (Routledge Studies in Religion)
by Zainab KabbaDrawing on immersive fieldwork in the United States, Canada, and Turkey, this ethnographic exploration illuminates the transformative experiences of emerging adult Muslims on their quest for religious knowledge. This book unravels the significance of four residential learning settings, revealing their role as catalysts for reshaping Islamic tradition. Delving into the interplay between technology’s pervasive influence and the decentralized nature of Islamic interpretation, Zainab Kabba unveils a vibrant tapestry of knowledge producers vying to shape religious understanding and practice among Western Muslims. At the heart of this narrative lies the delicate balance between teachers and students, continuously communicating and recalibrating components that bring religious authority to life. Kabba dissects this relationship, highlighting the emergence of a complex landscape that she terms the ‘Muslim Education Industrial Complex’, where religious knowledge has become a commodity. This study offers profound insights into the challenges of intra-Muslim dialogue and the adaptive resilience of American Sunni-Muslim communities. Amidst a digital age and the complexities of global geopolitics surrounding Islam, it showcases how these communities reinterpret classical Islamic narratives, navigating tradition to steer their path forward. This book invites readers to ponder the evolution of Islamic learning, the dynamics of authority, and the enduring quest for knowledge amidst the currents of a rapidly changing world.
Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well Lived
by Beth Kemptonkokoro [n.] intelligent heart, feeling mind One year. Two devastating losses. Three sacred Japanese mountains. A major life transition, a heart full of grief and a revelation that changes everything. Join Japanologist Beth Kempton on a pilgrimage through rural Japan in search of answers to some of life's biggest questions: How do we find calm in the chaos and beauty in the darkness? How do we let go of the past and stop worrying about the future? What can an awareness of impermanence teach us about living well?Together you will journey to the deep north of Japan, hike ancient forests, watch the moon rise over mountains of myth and encounter a host of wise teachers along the way - Noh actors, chefs, taxi drivers, coffee shop owners, poets, philosophers and the spirits that inhabit the land. You will contemplate the true nature of time at one of the world's strictest Zen temples and nothing will be quite the same again.This book is an invitation to cultivate stillness and contentment in an ever-changing, uncertain world. It all begins with the kokoro, a profound Japanese term which represents the intelligent heart, the feeling mind and the embodied spirit of every human being.To explore the kokoro is to explore the very essence of what it means to be human in this tough yet devastatingly beautiful world. When you learn to live guided by the light in your kokoro, everything changes, and anything is possible.
Koran für Dummies (Für Dummies)
by Sohaib SultanAlles Wissenswerte über die heilige Schrift des Islam Der Koran ist die heilige Schrift von über 1,8 Milliarden Muslimen auf allen Kontinenten. Er ist die Offenbarung Allahs an den Religionsstifter Mohammed, hohe Literatur und zugleich Leitfaden für das tägliche Leben der Gläubigen. Was sagt der Koran über den Glauben, über Frauen, über die Familie, über Andersgläubige, über Verbrechen und ihre Bestrafung? Sohaib Sultan berichtet über die Entstehung der heiligen Schrift und erläutert die Sprache des Koran. Er räumt Missverständnisse über den Koran aus dem Weg und eröffnet damit Möglichkeiten zu einem besseren Verständnis des Islam. Sie erfahren Wie der Koran entstanden und wie er aufgebaut ist Wie vielfältig sich der Koran interpretieren lässt Wie ein Leben nach dem Koran heute aussieht Was der Koran zu gesellschaftlichen Fragen sagt
Kroatisch, katholisch, konservativ: Kroatische Missionen in Deutschland und der Schweiz (Religionswissenschaft #41)
by Rebekka RieserRückzugsort, Vermittlerin von Religion und eine Brücke zur Gesellschaft - religiöse Migrantenorganisationen in westlichen Demokratien balancieren zwischen den Erwartungen der Mitglieder der Herkunfts- bzw. Residenzgesellschaft und der eigenen organisationalen Umwelt. Rebekka Rieser analysiert den Umgang mit diesen Erwartungen und die daraus resultierenden Konsequenzen für die Organisationen, die Individuen und die Gesellschaft anhand der bislang wenig beforschten römisch-katholischen kroatischen Missionen in der Schweiz und in Deutschland. Dabei fokussiert sie besonders auf die Strukturen und Rollen von Religionsgemeinschaften in Integrationsprozessen und betont somit deren Bedeutung in einem zunehmend pluralisierten und säkularen Umfeld.
Kunst - Raum - Religion: Orte und Wege ästhetischer Bildung (Ästhetik und Bildung #13)
by Peter BubmannReligiöse und ästhetische Erfahrungen hängen eng zusammen: Kunst wie Religion werden von Raumwahrnehmung geprägt und generieren selbst Räume. Wie das geschieht und welche Chancen und Herausforderungen sich für die ästhetische Bildung daraus ergeben, zeigen die Beiträger*innen aus historischer, kulturwissenschaftlicher, theologischer und pädagogischer Sicht. Anhand exemplarischer Kunstorte und Sakralräume loten sie die Potentiale ästhetisch-religiöser Bildung aus und setzen einen Fokus auf die ästhetische Relevanz und liturgische Theatralität von Kirchenräumen. Der Dialog zwischen Expert*innen für ästhetische Bildung und Künstler*innen sowie Theolog*innen eröffnet dabei neue Sichtweisen auf ein bislang wenig erforschtes Feld.
Land, Faith, and Voice: Christian Music in the Pacific Northwest
by Alexander RosenblattThis book summarizes a decade of research on its topic, while each specific perspective either formed in advance, or arose in the process of ethnography and its analysis. The book explores various aspects of Christian music in British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon, but primarily its historical facets and local palette. The scope of the main topics covers aspects such as historical and local melodies in relevant hymnbooks, musical practices in the Cathedrals and other churches within the designated area, and the creative profile of modern North American composers (including those who have worked in the Pacific Northwest), who made significant contributions to the church music practiced in the area. Other background and supporting topics are a reference on the history and culture of the Canadian and U.S. parts of the region, the study of Native Christian art, its philosophy and examples, and historical stages and the current landscape of Christianity in British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon.The book bears the features of a monograph and a handbook at the same time. Among the few other books dealing with specific topics that make up the content of this book, none of them gives an all-around picture of the regional history, society, culture, art, religion, and its musical expression as a holistic phenomenon.
Land, Faith, and Voice: Christian Music in the Pacific Northwest
by Alexander RosenblattThis book summarizes a decade of research on its topic, while each specific perspective either formed in advance, or arose in the process of ethnography and its analysis. The book explores various aspects of Christian music in British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon, but primarily its historical facets and local palette. The scope of the main topics covers aspects such as historical and local melodies in relevant hymnbooks, musical practices in the Cathedrals and other churches within the designated area, and the creative profile of modern North American composers (including those who have worked in the Pacific Northwest), who made significant contributions to the church music practiced in the area. Other background and supporting topics are a reference on the history and culture of the Canadian and U.S. parts of the region, the study of Native Christian art, its philosophy and examples, and historical stages and the current landscape of Christianity in British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon.The book bears the features of a monograph and a handbook at the same time. Among the few other books dealing with specific topics that make up the content of this book, none of them gives an all-around picture of the regional history, society, culture, art, religion, and its musical expression as a holistic phenomenon.
Landscape, Religion, and the Supernatural: Nordic Perspectives on Landscape Theory (AAR Religion, Culture, and History)
by Matthias EgelerThis is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read on Oxford Academic and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. All societies fill the geographical space in which they are living with the holy, the sacred, and the supernatural. A lively academic debate has developed in the last few decades about how human beings make the landscapes that they live in and how these landscapes work. This discussion has repeatedly referenced religion and the supernatural, but it has never engaged either in significant depth. Landscape, Religion, and the Supernatural: Nordic Perspectives on Landscape Theory presents a summa of current and classic theorizing on religion and the supernatural in relationship to the land and develops these theories further by bringing them into dialogue with a rich set of folkloristic and historical data. Focusing on many different themes, including time and memory, repeating patterns, identity formation, power and subversion, sound, home and unhomeliness, and nature and environment, author Matthias Egeler engages with a broad range of theoretical concepts and approaches from the interdisciplinary fields of landscape theory and the study of religions. He brings this theorizing into dialogue with the rich culture of local storytelling and landscape-related traditional beliefs of the Strandir district of the Icelandic Westfjords. In this rural region, landscape-related traditions have been documented since the early nineteenth century and continue to be important to this day. Confronting this vibrant heritage with the insights of landscape theory--both in and beyond the study of religions--allows important new contributions to both fields, especially through the inclusion of perspectives held by rural populations rather than the urban upper classes that have been the focus of research to date. The example of the Icelandic Westfjords shows the extreme richness of religious and supernatural approaches to the landscape that can be developed in rural communities and how they are significantly and characteristically different from the perspectives found in literature and the arts.
The Last Ta'ifa: The Banu Hud and the Struggle for Political Legitimacy in al-Andalus (Medieval Societies, Religions, and Cultures)
by Anthony H. MinnemaIn The Last Ta'ifa, Anthony H. Minnema shows how the Banu Hud, an Arab dynasty from Zaragoza, created and recreated their vision of an autonomous city-state (ta'ifa) in ways that reveal changes to legitimating strategies in al-Andalus and across the Mediterranean. In 1110, the Banu Hud lost control of their emirate in the north of Iberia and entered exile, ending their century-long rule. But far from accepting their fate, the dynasty adapted by serving Christian kings, nurturing rebellions, and carving out a new state in Murcia to recover, maintain, and grow their power. By tracing the Banu Hud across chronicles, charters, and coinage, Minnema shows how dynastic leaders borrowed their rivals' claims and symbols and engaged in similar types of military campaigns and complex alliances in an effort to cultivate authority. Drawing on Arabic, Latin, and vernacular sources, The Last Ta'ifa uses the history of the Banu Hud to connect the pursuit of legitimacy in al-Andalus to the politics of other emerging kingdoms and emirates. The actions of Hudid leaders, Minnema shows, echoed across the region as other kings, rebels, and adventurers employed parallel methods to gain power and resist the forces of centralization, highlighting the constructed nature of legitimacy in al-Andalus and the Mediterranean.
The Law of Riba in Islamic Banking: Conventional and Unconventional Approaches to Interest-Free Financing (Islamic Business and Finance Series)
by Hasan GürakThe issue of riba, that is, interest/the "excess" or "surplus" on loans is crucial for both Islamic and non-Islamic countries. Western economic systems use interest to distribute financial resources efficiently for investment and/or consumption, while Islamic economies pursue a completely different strategy for financing loans, which adheres to Islamic laws and prohibits the activities of conventional banking systems with regard to interest. This book argues that there is scope for new definitions and analysis based on alternative concepts which respect Islamic values and principles, yet pave the way for modification and debate.The book comprises of two parts. Theoretical issues are dealt with in the first section. The first two chapters examine conventional Islamic views on the prohibition of riba, while Chapters 3 and 4 contain unprecedented and alternative theoretical analysis based on concepts such as "earned" (halal-permitted-legal) vs. "unearned" (haram-impermissible-illegal) income and SUKUK, that is, Islamic interest-free bonds. The second part of the book tackles another unconventional aspect of Islamic finance, that is, the concept of NAS. The book considers whether the NAS-influenced anti-inflationary interest policy was a success or failure. Empirical data is evaluated in terms of bank incomes, inflation rate, interest rate, and the distribution of income.This book will be a useful guide for students, scholars, and researchers of Islamic banking and finance.
The Law of Riba in Islamic Banking: Conventional and Unconventional Approaches to Interest-Free Financing (Islamic Business and Finance Series)
The issue of riba, that is, interest/the "excess" or "surplus" on loans is crucial for both Islamic and non-Islamic countries. Western economic systems use interest to distribute financial resources efficiently for investment and/or consumption, while Islamic economies pursue a completely different strategy for financing loans, which adheres to Islamic laws and prohibits the activities of conventional banking systems with regard to interest. This book argues that there is scope for new definitions and analysis based on alternative concepts which respect Islamic values and principles, yet pave the way for modification and debate.The book comprises of two parts. Theoretical issues are dealt with in the first section. The first two chapters examine conventional Islamic views on the prohibition of riba, while Chapters 3 and 4 contain unprecedented and alternative theoretical analysis based on concepts such as "earned" (halal-permitted-legal) vs. "unearned" (haram-impermissible-illegal) income and SUKUK, that is, Islamic interest-free bonds. The second part of the book tackles another unconventional aspect of Islamic finance, that is, the concept of NAS. The book considers whether the NAS-influenced anti-inflationary interest policy was a success or failure. Empirical data is evaluated in terms of bank incomes, inflation rate, interest rate, and the distribution of income.This book will be a useful guide for students, scholars, and researchers of Islamic banking and finance.